Man of Mystery -20



The dynamics of Brian and Justin’s relationship had changed and become more defined. That fact was apparent to everyone who came across the two of them that day. There was ease between them that hadn’t been there before. A camaraderie that, even with Michael, Brian had never known before. 

None of the people at Villa Rosa commented openly, but they all noticed. That is everyone except Molly who refused to come out her room, telling them all that she had a headache. The red light on the second phone line, however, told Justin that she was, in fact, talking to Seiji back in the States.

The evenings spent sitting in lounge chairs around the pool were relaxing for everyone and made it easy to forget everything that had happened, even though no one actually did.  It was apparent in the flashes of fear at a sudden movement in a shadowed corner, or the startled jump that occurred when an unusual noise sounded. The only two who were oblivious to their surroundings were Paul and Gus. 

Brian and Justin were sitting side-by-side in a double hammock, the fingers of one of their hands twined together and cold drinks close by. “I think they both must have fingers like prunes by now,.” Brian laughed. “They’ve been in that water for more than an hour.” 

“Paul can move around better in the water,” Justin explained and butted Brian’s shoulder with his head. “If I recall, so could you.” Their tryst in the hot pool was fresh in their memories.

“I’m not arguing the point.” Brian smiled. “I’m just saying that all their interesting bits have probably retreated. That’s salt water and it isn’t all that warm.” 

 “You have a point,” he laughed. “Paul is beautiful again. I can’t thank Isasu enough for that gift. No one deserved it more than he did.” 

“I still don’t understand why she didn’t finish the job and repair the damage on his legs and hips.” 

“I don’t think it works like that Brian. I think that she did what she could. Everything happens for a reason. It could be that Paul needs to deal with his disability in this life to make things better for his next one.” 

“Whatever Justin. Do you really believe that?” Brian asked, unsure about this line of conversation since he had been raised in the Catholic Church.

“I do Brian, I really do.”

“Tomorrow, do you want me to come with you to your mother’s?”

“I don’t know.” Justin watched the sky, looking at the stars that seemed brighter on this side of the world than the other. “Why does life have to be so complicated Brian?” 

“Damned if I know,” he huffed a laugh.

“Molly is….” Justin was at a loss to say. 

“Molly has a gift. I wouldn’t be surprised if you did as well.” Brian brought Justin’s hand up to his lips. “I’m not sure if going back to the States now is going to help. I talked a bit about this with Pierre and with Sandy. They both say that she needs training[;] proper training to learn how to handle her gift. She isn’t old enough, mature enough in her outlook to understand the difference between right and wrong as far as her power is concerned.”

“Molly understands right and wrong.”

“Magic isn’t as clear cut as life Justin. What we might think is the right thing to do, may not be. And if we do it often enough it could become very, very wrong. That’s the trouble with magic. It’s what pulls good people, people with strong and pure souls, to the dark side.”

“Like chocolate is good, but too much is damn bad,” Justin pondered.

“Something like that,” Brian agreed. They sat in silence again watching everyone in the pool. 

“Justin.” 

Justin looked up to see Livi standing beside him. “Hey Livi. Did I tell you how happy I was to see you here?”

“Yes dear,” she smiled and bent down to kiss his cheek. “I have a note here from Molly. She insisted I give it to you now.”

“Where is she? Why didn’t she give it to me herself?” he asked as he opened the envelope.

“Oh, she’s at the airport dear. I expect she’ll be boarding a plane heading home right about now. I thought you knew.”

Justin bit back the anger that surged through him. It wasn’t Livi’s fault his sister was a bitch. “Thanks Livi,.” Justin said quietly. He leaned into Brian’s comforting hug.

<i> Dear Justin,

Sorry for running out like this, but I hitched a ride with Doc and Niko to the airport. We managed to get the last three seats on tonight’s flight to the States. I need time and space to get my head around everything that’s happened. I don’t like being a bitch to mom and Aubrey, but that’s how I feel right now. 

Something deep down inside of me is telling me to go to Twin Oaks. It’s not like I have any other place to go anyway. I mean Seiji is my boyfriend, but I’m not ready for it to go further than friendship. Call me old-fashioned.

Tell mom I’ll talk to her when she comes home and there is always email. 

Oh and Justin, tell Brian not to freak, but I’ve taken the Book of Shadows. I’m not saying I’m going to look at it, but I feel better when it’s with me. I don’t know why.

Love
Your sister Molly </i>

“Fuck,” Justin said softly as he handed Brian the letter. “You need to read this.” 

“Wonderful.” Brian shook his head after he read the letter. “I suppose it could have been worse. At least she’s with Doc and Niko.” 

Justin only nodded, not trusting himself to speak he was so angry with his sister. “That book… it’s evil,” his voice was a whisper.

“I don’t think it’s evil so much as the fact that it has been used to do evil,” Brian sighed. “Sandy explained that there is a fine line between good and evil.  A line that is too easily crossed and causes even well-meaning people to the dark side. For now there’s nothing we can do but trust her. If she’s anything like you or your parents, she’ll be okay.”

“My parents, that’s another thing I have to deal with.” Justin almost wished he could run away with Molly to Twin Oaks. 

“We’ll deal with it,” Brian said and rubbed Justin’s arm. For now, maybe a quick call to Maudie to let her know Molly will be arriving. You might see if Maudie has any kind of insight into Mollies abilities. No doubt they are inherited.”

“So you say.” Justin looked gloomy. “You know if I had any kind of magic in me, we’d be alone in bed right now with everyone here would be gone.” 

Brian laughed out loud. “That doesn’t take magic, just a bit of time. Michael and Emmett are leaving tomorrow. We can give Pierre and Livi a few days off. Gus should go back home and no doubt he’ll be taking Paul with him. The two of them seem inseparable. Your mom and dad are back where they live, anyone else? Oh yes, Tomo and Marco, well judging from the sounds I heard in Tomo’s room, they’re getting along just fine. I’ll suggest to the two of them that they had back to the States with Gus and Paul. That leaves you and I.”

“Oh, you have this all planned.” Justin had to laugh. “You do remember that I’m an adult and as such have responsibilities.” 

“So, you think I don’t?” Brian laughed. “Fuck the responsibilities”

“No fuck me.” Justin turned into Brian’s arms. “Now.” 

“I thought you’d never ask.” Brian stood, pulled Justin out of the hammock and then threw him over his shoulder. “Have fun boys,” he called to the group in the pool.

“Where are they going?” Michael asked Emmett.

“Oh Honey if you have to ask me that, you need a lesson in homosexuality 101,”  Emmett giggled. “Come on, lets get out of the pool. My skin is all wrinkly. I’ll give you a massage.”

“You will?” Michael grinned. “No shit.” He swam to the steps and climbed out. “See you later Gus and Paul.” 

The two younger men were not listening. They were too involved with one another as they idly treaded water in the deep end of the pool talking to each other non-stop about their life, hopes and dreams. Finally Gus said, “I think we’re alone.” He looked around and only the moonlight cast any kind of illumination on the water.  

“We are alone. Everything seems so quiet… almost magical.” They both giggled. They’d been making fun of magic all evening. 

“I think I hear music,”  Paul whispered. 

“That’s my heart beating.” Gus smiled.

“No it isn’t you fool, it’s music from the tavern. Sound carries up here at night.”  Paul pulled Gus in close for a kiss and they started to sink below the water. 

“Let’s get out,” Gus sputtered. 

“It’s cold in the night air.” 

“I’ll keep you warm,” Gus said as he swam to the steps. “Come on, I’ll help you out.” 

“You’re always helping me.” 

“That’s ‘cause I’m in like with you.” 

Paul smiled and let Gus help him make his way to the still warm stone surrounding the pool. “This was always my favorite song to dance to,” Paul said with a sigh as a slow waltz drifted through the air. 

“Let’s dance to it then,” Gus said. He turned to Paul, his arms around the smaller man’s body. 

“You know I can’t.” Paul sounded more regretful than angry with Gus’ suggestion. 

“Sure you can. I won’t let you fall.” Gus began to sway in time to the music. “Close your eyes and lean into me. You don’t need to move your feet. Let the music sink deep, deep inside until all you hear is the rhythm and all you feel are my arms. We’re dancing. Do you feel the sweep of the floor beneath our feet?” Gus dipped Paul back and up again. “I love to dip you back, all the other dancers are envious of your beauty.” He kissed Paul gently and then held him close again. “We make a great couple,” he whispered.

“I’ve always suspected as much,” Paul said. “You dance divinely by the way.”

“As do you.” Gus grinned, they hadn’t moved from the spot they’d started from. The music became louder and taking a chance, since he really couldn’t waltz at all despite years of lessons that his father had insisted upon, Gus picked up Paul in his arms so that his feet didn’t touch the ground and began the sweeping steps of a waltz, moving closer and closer to the door of the villa. 

Paul, his dancer’s delight at the feeling of dancing and the music in the air, couldn’t stop grinning, through his closed eyes, his mind gave him the image of the two of them, dressed in tuxedos making a statement like no other as they moved over a ballroom floor. 

Gus danced them to Paul’s room. It was only then that he stopped. “I’ve brought you home my Prince,” he whispered. 

“Come in,” Paul invited. 

“Are you sure?” Gus asked, because he and Paul both knew that if he came in, more than gentle cuddling would take place. 

“I’m sure.” Paul hesitated, “Gus, I think I may be falling in love with you. If that makes you uncomfortable, I’ll understand.” 

“It makes me happy, because I’ve already fallen for you.” Gus lifted Paul again and carried him into the bedroom.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jennifer fussed with a bouquet of flowers and if anything they ended up looking worse than when she’d started. She threw a peony on the floor and all but stamped her feet on it. Familiar laughter made her turn quickly knocking the vase over, ruining what she’d done. 
“Aubrey, stop laughing, there’s nothing funny about this.” 

Aubrey gave her a quick kiss and began to help her pick up the spilled flowers. “Good thing the water wasn’t in the vase.” 

“Oh my gawd, I forgot the water.” She looked panicky for a moment. 

“Jennifer, he’s your son, you know him. And Molly is your daughter. I’m the one who has to worry.” Aubrey picked the last flower up from the floor. 

The bell at the gate rang and Jennifer startled. “I’m not ready, ” she said, shaking She shook her hands. 

“Who cares?” Aubrey laughed. “We’ll answer the door together.” 

Justin and Brian stood outside the wrought iron gate. “The flowers are great,” Brian said, not sure what to say, but he had to say something. 

Justin rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue only to find himself looking into his father’s eyes. “Uh, sorry, that was meant for Brian,” he stammered. “Hey mom, Mr. Thomas.” 

“If you can’t call me dad, would you at least call me Aubrey?” his father asked. “Mr. Kinney, nice to see you again. Where’s Molly?” 

“Molly should be at Twin Oaks by now,” Justin replied. “She wanted to get back home as soon as she could.”

“I wish she’d stayed.” Jennifer shook her head. “Her powers are too new to her, her body and mind will be changing. It isn’t good for her to be alone.” 

“She isn’t alone. She has her boyfriend Seiji and she has Maudie and Timmy.” Justin followed his parents into the house, Brian trailing behind. 

“Maudie and Timmy are good people,” Aubrey agreed. “I’ve known them since I was about six.”

“No you were four. I remember when you first came to Twin Oaks, I thought you were such an inconvenience, my mother insisted that I play with you and all you wanted to do was draw pictures,” Jennifer laughed. “You had the worst haircut. It was all buzzed off. Imagine my surprise when the next time I saw you, I think it was Christmas, and your head was covered in blond curls.” She smiled. “You looked like an Angel on a Christmas card. I think that’s when I fell in love with you.” 

“Even though I still only wanted to draw pictures?” Aubrey asked. He looked at Justin. “Your mother was a perfect little horror. Spoiled rotten, she ruled the house, and she ruled me.” He kissed Jennifer’s cheek. “I don’t think we were ever apart after that. Well until she reached eighteen,” he sighed and looked unhappy. “But that’s another story for another day.” 

“I think maybe I need to hear it today,” Justin’s voice was quiet. He could see that his mother and Aubrey were very much in love. Something he never saw when Jennifer and Craig were together. “How could you have married the man I thought of as my father if you loved Mr. … Aubrey so much?”

“It was necessary,” his mother said quietly. “Something in me died a little bit everyday. But I did what was necessary for the survival of my family, or so I thought at the time.” She looked sad and wiped a tear that threatened to fall from the corner of her eye. “I was a fool of course. You can’t trust someone who has been born and bred to be evil. I didn’t ask my father until it was too late. His heart was broken when he found out I’d married Craig rather than the man I truly loved. I’m sure that’s part of what killed him. But I thought[…] I thought that by marrying Craig Taylor, my family’s well-being would be safe from all that the Taylors threatened to do.”

Jennifer raised her chin up and looked Justin in the eye. “I was eighteen years old, pregnant with you and forced by an evil man to give up the man I loved in order that my father would retain his life as he knew it. Aubrey, your father has stood by me every second of every minute since the day I first met him. Don’t you dare think it didn’t break his heart to have his son raised by a monster. You can’t even begin to comprehend the evil of that man or his family. I did what was necessary but I had my own revenge.” Aubrey came up beside her and put his arm around her waist. “I’m not without my own power, though I have always used it for good,” Jennifer continued. “Craig Taylor was never, not once in all the years we were married, ever able to get an erection, he was completely impotent the moment he walked into my room. He never discovered that it was a spell I placed on the room I stayed in both at the big house and Twin Oaks. And when I became pregnant with Molly after a brief rendezvous with Aubrey during a trip to Paris, I made the decision to do a tiny bit of dark magic to make Craig think Molly was his.”

She turned and buried her head in Aubrey’s chest. “It was the wrong thing to do. Dark magic is really only white magic gone wrong. Each time it’s used, if you don’t have the background and backing of some other evil entity, it will only come back at you, three fold.”

“My father was killed in a horrible accident. Molly was a twin and one child was still born.” Her head went up. “And you… you began to separate from us and eventually you were sent to military school. You never returned to us.” She held up here hand as Justin began to say something. “I know you wanted to, but I couldn’t let you. By then I realized just how mad Craig was. I used everything I had to keep you safe, but keeping you safe meant keeping you away. I – am – not – sorry.” Jennifer blinked back tears.  “You are alive. You are a talented and brilliant, kind and caring young man. Craig Taylor didn’t win, no matter how hard he tried. And Justin, believe me he tried.” 

He felt Brian’s hand on his shoulder as he gave a squeeze of confidence. Justin held out his arms and took a step forward to embrace his mother and his father. While they cried in each other’s arms, Brian wiped a tear from his own eye. He couldn’t stop the silly grin that was on his face and when Justin and Aubrey reached for him, he willingly joined the family in their celebration of renewal. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Molly stepped off the plane, ignoring Doc and Niko. She’d been upset to see them sitting in the coach section and had done her best to ignore them, plugging her iPod into her ear and zoning out for the entire trip. She’d had time to leave a message for Seiji about her flight before it was called so she wasn’t surprised when he grabbed her around the waist and twirled her in a circle. 

“Hey Molly, you look wonderful.” He kissed her firmly. “Is Justin okay?” 

“He’s okay.” She shrugged. “I mean he’s awake and stuff. Take me to the house. I want to see what it looks like.”

“Molly, it’s gone. I told you, it’s gone.” Seiji pulled her case behind him, his other arm around her waist.

“I don’t care, I want to see it.” Her chin went up, stubborn to a fault.

“We’ll go.” Seiji laughed, “Damn you’re stubborn.” 

“It helps,” she sighed. “I can’t believe my room and all my stuff is gone.” 

“It’s only stuff.”  He looked at her. “I don’t suppose Justin had time to ship all of the books in the library to that dealer I mentioned.”

“I don’t know. I think maybe some went,” Molly said, although she didn’t really care. 

“I meant the real old ones.” 

“Yeah, those were the ones he was sending first.”

“Did he keep any?” 

“Some I guess. I mean I have the Book of Shadows which by the way is one freaky ass book.” She looked at him. “Did you know that Brian wasn’t going to let me have my own book. As if he could stop me.” She patted her carry on case. “It’s my book.”

“That’s a powerful book.” He reached out to touch the bag and then drew his hand back. “I wouldn’t mind seeing it.” 

“Maybe later, I’m not in the mood. I want to see my home or what’s left of it.” Molly got into the seat of the car Seiji indicated. “Nice car.” 

“I borrowed it from a friend,” he shrugged. “I don’t need a car in the city, but it seemed crazy to take a cab here to meet your flight.” 

“I could have taken a cab to your place,” she sighed. “But it was nice to see you when I got off the plane.”

“It was nice that you called me.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

Molly smiled and leaned back in the seat shutting her eyes. “I’m tired.” She sighed. She could feel the car moving from the airport and was able to trace its route with her mind. Familiarity was comforting, though with her home burned, the familiar was all too fleeting. 

“Molly, we’re here.” Seiji touched her arm. “Did you want to get out?” 

Sitting up abruptly Molly rubbed her eyes. “Yes.”

“The ground could be unstable, there was quite the underground fire. From what I could tell, there were a lot more underground rooms and tunnels than we knew about.” 

“It figures, the house was pretty old.” She got out of the car shouldering her bag with the Book of Shadows in it. Something told her that as long as she was traveling, it should never be left unattended. 

Seiji followed as close as he dared, Molly moved carefully, but she ventured to the very edges of the fire pit that had been her home. She followed the fire’s progress to the top of the hill and then looked at the blackened path it had taken to the warehouses that were only so much charred wood and rubble now. 

A crack of thunder followed by a bolt of lightning and the heavens opened drenching Molly and Seiji in seconds. Seiji grabbed Molly’s hand and they began to sprint across the ruined lawns, their feet thumping heavily as their shoes became more and more water logged. Neither one noticed when a hole opened up in the grass behind them, exposing a the ceiling of a room untouched by the fire. Only coming to light because of the heavy equipment and water from the fire hoses and now the rain had disturbed it’s quiet and forgotten sleep.

“You can stay at my place if you want,” Seiji offered.

“No, I’m going to stay at Twin Oaks. I feel safe there.” Molly sniffed as she wiped the rain from her eyes. “Do you mind driving me? When do you have to have the car back?” 

“I can drive you,” Seiji said not answering her other question. He didn’t know why, but he wanted to keep part of his life separate from Molly and her goodness.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“It was an emotional experience.” Justin was trying to explain to Brian why he didn’t want to spend time with their guests. “I can’t deal with anyone right now.” 

“They want to see you, Boyo. They want to know you’re alive and well.” He kissed Justin’s forehead. “I want to know that as well.”

“I’m alive and I guess I’m okay.” Justin leaned into Brian. “It’s going to take time. I think I’ll spend a few weeks here getting to know my <i>new</i> father and my mother.” 

“What about the estate and your plans for it? What about Molly?” 

“Molly is almost an adult, there really isn’t much I can do other than be there for her when she needs me.” Justin turned away and looked out at the fountain that gleamed in the afternoon sun. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the last few years looking after people. It’s time for me now. I know that sounds selfish, but I really need to be able to think all of this through.” 

“I understand, I really do.” Brian wrapped him in his arms. “I can’t stay you know. I have a business to run and Gus, well, he needs me around.”

Justin shrugged, he really wasn’t used to having to take anyone else’s schedules into consideration when he lived his own life. “Whatever,” he muttered knowing he sounded more juvenile than Molly. “You know where to find me.” 

“I guess I do.” This time it was Brian’s turn to walk away. He couldn’t understand this man/child. And he wasn’t sure he even wanted to.

“Don’t misunderstand me Brian. I like you, more than like you. But I don’t really know you and you don’t know me. And you have to admit the last few weeks have been freaky to the tenth degree.” 

“I admit all of that,” Brian conceded. 

“I run a business myself, I understand about that. And Gus, he’s a great kid. I know that he needs you. I can see that. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you’re always someone’s kid.” Justin’s grin was twisted. “I guess that’s why I need some time to be a kid, even one who’s almost thirty. I want to get to know my parents, really know them. And I want some time to forget about the bad years, about Craig and that fucking school I went to. I need time to heal.” 

Brian nodded his head. He had always wanted to be a kid himself. But it had been a state that had always been denied him for one reason or another. How could he deny Justin this chance, probably the only one he’d ever have. “I’m going to book a flight out with Mikey and Emmett. We’ll get out of your way.”

“Thanks Brian, I appreciate everything you’ve done. I really do. Tell Gus and the rest of them thanks too. Justin walked over to Brian and kissed him tenderly[;] the kiss bittersweet. He smiled a crooked smile and walked through the door that led to his secret garden. Only this time when Brian moved to follow him, the door was locked and then to his astonishment, it began to fade until there was nothing there but a blank wall. 

He didn’t feel any kind of evil or badness, he knew Justin was safe and had to think that maybe this was Isasu’s way of healing her <i>son</i>.

It was late in the day; Brian had no desire to face the gang. He made a couple of calls and booked their flights before taking off his clothes and crawling under the sheets that had held Justin not so long ago. He could smell the blond’s scent and he closed his eyes falling into an instant sleep. Tomorrow would come soon enough. He knew that Justin would be staying in his garden until they all left. It was sad, but he also knew that his Justin was safe and that was all that really mattered. 

Later when Brian was sleeping Justin opened the door that separated them. He walked to the end of the bed and climbed up on the mattress, sitting cross-legged where he could watch him sleep. He knew that he didn’t dare touch the sleeping man for fear he wouldn’t be able to stop. This was the best way for both of them. It was best to make a clean break before either of them went to far in their emotions and crossed the line from like to love. If that happened neither of them would be able to resist the pull of the other. 

Justin wasn’t sure if he could handle the fact that his family was apparently descended from witches. He wondered if that meant they were pagans or just that they were magical and called themselves witches. Was he a wizard? There were a lot of questions he couldn’t answer and there really was no one he could ask right now. At least no one he trusted to give him the correct answers. 

But right now that didn’t matter, what mattered was the man sleeping in his bed. Justin smiled to himself, Brian was beautiful, inside and out. There wasn’t a lot he could do right now, but he could give him pleasant dreams and he could put an aura of safety spell on him so that nothing could ever harm him. He’d put the same spell on Molly and Gus as well. Which is one of the reasons he wasn’t too worried about his sister leaving the way she did. Nothing would be able to harm her; no matter how hard they tried. He hoped all of the past few days’ nonsense was done with, but he knew that evil never really went away. 

Moonlight faded as the sun began to rise. It was time for Justin to leave the man he knew he was falling in love with. Standing carefully, he stretched and then impulsively he blew a kiss, while at the same time imagining his lips devouring Brian’s with passion. He almost giggled aloud when he saw Brian’s cock tent the white sheets.  He had received his kiss. Justin disappeared through the door once again causing it to disappear. 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

“I don’t see why we had to leave so quickly,”  Michael complained to Brian as they walked onto the airplane that was going to take them home. Gus had pleaded for a two week reprieve and Brian had agreed to let him spend the time at Paul’s apartment in Vence. So Brian found himself with Michael, Ted, Tomo and Marco on a plane heading back to the States. 

“It was time to go home,”  Brian said. He hated to leave as well, but he knew that he had to give Justin time to think things through.

“Why did Gus get to stay? He’s a kid,” Michael continued.

“He is? I never noticed,” Brian drawled.

“Well, why did he get to stay?” 

Brian sighed dramatically, “Gus is staying because he was invited to stay by his boyfriend.” 

“If he was my kid, he wouldn’t have a boyfriend at his age,” Michael began.

“Thankfully, he isn’t,” Brian glared at his whiny friend. “He’s my kid and he’s entitled to a life and if that life leads him to finding love however fleeting, then I say go for it. God knows I don’t want him to be as emotionally stunted as I’ve been.”

Michael knew enough to say no more. Instead he tried to think of something interesting to say about Justin, but couldn’t come up with a thing. Finally, “So is it over between you and Justin?” 

“You don’t fucking know when to stop do you Mikey?” Brian shook his head. “No it isn’t over, because it never was. He was a client and I protected him like I would any other client.” He glared at Emmett when the man snickered. “I’m still working for him as a matter of fact. We don’t need to be on the same continent for me to do that.”

The next half hour was taken up with the initial part of the flight. Brian downed two quick doubles and then accepting the offer of as sleep mask from the steward, settled into his own world ignoring the rest of them. He knew that Gus was safe, because he knew that Justin would see to it that he was. It wasn’t something he had to worry about. And he knew that despite Justin’s words to him, that they were linked together somehow and rather than scaring him, it made him able to accept this separation better. It was all just a matter of time in this life or the next before he’d capture the heart of his man of mystery. 

The end
June 18, 2006

A sequel – entitled Shadowed Mystery will follow eventually